The intentionally unbuttoned jeans look has been seen on just about every very online nostalgia-bait, fashion-obsessed influencer and Gen Z-er in the last few years. And while the masses are still heavily divided on this controversial style choice, it’s clear that when you’ve got it, any polarizing fashion moment can work. Well, last night, Tyla proved she’s definitely got it. At her latest NYC outing, the “She Did It Again” singer wore the very divisive Y2K trend, and I personally can’t get enough.
Tyla styled her unbuttoned, medium-wash, straight-leg jeans with a white tank top, tied with a scrunchie, and a pair of colorful peep-toe heels. She also added a silver dangling chain through her belt loops, underscoring the overall Y2K vibes. She finished it off with a slew of wrapped beads around her neck, creating a stacked choker-necklace effect.
Obviously, the true star of the outfit is the open-flanked denim jeans. And, listen, I get that there’s an element of ridiculousness to wearing your pants undone. Embracing that quirky irreverence to dressing norms is what makes fashion people appreciate the trend’s boldness in the first place. That kind of sartorial snarkiness isn’t for everyone, though, and that’s fine.
But Tyla’s in good company here. Unzipped jeans have been seen on the likes of Doja Cat, Kim Kardashian, and Millie Bobby Brown, too, which just goes to show that a lot of our faves are just as tapped in.
Some retailers have even started selling pants that come pre-folded, showing just how far this trend has come. And I, for one, hope to see more of the girls styling their summer looks this way.
Aiyana Ishmael is the style editor at Cosmopolitan magazine. In her work, Aiyana focuses on the culture of fashion and how it intertwines and shapes the zeitgeist. She is an award-winning journalist from Miami, Florida, and a graduate of the historically Black university, Florida A&M. She is a 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30: Media honoree, and her debut romance novella PASSING GAME is set to release March of 2027 (831 Stories/Simon & Schuster).
